The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-05

lOun glhubo.
In. NIKE,
Of Henderson, presented q memorial
asking for q suspension OF the clause,
and retired. Two or three other names
were called, but the gentlemen were
not present. Finally
hR. U. ". ARMSTRONG,
q furniture dealer of Evansville, next
appeared. He stated that there were
fifteen factories at that place, one-half
Of the product Of which went 10 the
South and Southwest, and therefore
came under the provisions OF the long
and short haul clause.
Msj. Stahlman then presented
memorial from business men Of Paris,
asking forthe clauses suspension.
b. NIToHKLL
general freight agent OF the'western
division OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, with headquarters at Louis
vile, was next called. He was asked
10 vouch for petitions from Louisville,
Paducah, and every intermediate and
non-competitive points on the road.
They were obtained by being forward
ed TO agents with the request to all
out and return them. il agreeable. He
did so. The road was affected by com.
petition with river transportation at
number Of points along the line OF
road. The tariff rates filed with the
commission were lower at the points
because OF this competition. This was
not discrimination, only to protect
themselves and their patrons. Aside
from that the road had no special
rates. The local business OF the road
is the largest, by more than double.
The average local rate per mile Is
about "a cents; through freight, per
mile, about seven. tenths OF cent.
We would be compelled, under the
proposeds arrangement, to grade our
through business up to the local, as We
could not afford to sacrifice the latter.
We could not reduce the local business,
because in does not exist in sufficient
quantity to compensate us. In case OF
increase In rates on through business
we could not retain ii, or shippers
would not patronize us and pay twice
as much az over some other line. We
do very little handling OF through
freight. The trunk lines are clamor-
ing for enforcement OF the long and
short haul cause. River linss make
the rates at all timee, and We either
have to meet them or lose the bust
ness.
COL. LOGAN II. ROOTS,
OF Little Rock, Ark, then took the
stand. He stated his business rs
banker, but he was engaged in manu-
featuring interests. Since he arrived
he had learned that citizens were not
expected to make application for sus-
pension OF the clause. The Little
Rock road had made that application,
and he desired to BE- heard ON behalf
Of the Board Of Trade OF that city. He
spoke earnestly and vigorously in be-
half Of the cause, not alone for Little
Rock, but the entire State. Oiti-
sens Of Arkansas had established
his city az a distributing center,
and no act of Congress should have
tho power to step in and break that
down. They had also voted literally
to construct and maintain the railroad,
and the intert tate commerce bill, II en-
forced entire, would render that prop
erty almost valueless. This was great
hardship and all wrong. At his con-
clusion, Maj. Weatherford asked that
Mr.. Roots be allowed to make some
statement, in answer to questions, as
to the length OF the Memphis and
Little Rock Railroad. The examine
ton proceeded and witness said the
population OF the city was come Is,
900. They had no line OF boats run.
ming there at present, ON account oil
low water. Five railroads entered the
city, but in twelve months he hoped
to have as many more.
or. PENsLE,
wholesale grocer Of Little Rock, fol- |
lowed Mr.. Roots. HIS business |
amounted to about $500, 900 per year. |
He went into q description Of the ad-
vantages OF Little Rock, claiming 1t to |
be by far the largest in the State. Dur
ing the last month his business has
fallen off about one-thlrd, and he
understood 1t to be the result Of the
interstate commerce bill. This
affected not Little Rock alone, but
intermediate and non-competitive
points. His Touring mill was shut
down on account Of the depression,
caused b. this bill, as he thought.
The lumber business was peculiar
one at Little Rock, and probably
escaped the evil effects OF the new
railway tariff regulation. A number
OF other matters were referred to, all
demanding suspension OF the clause
under review.
WIN. d. MILLER
was then introduced 40 an expert on
the established railway rates, how they
auctuated, and the effect of the regu-
lations under the interstate commerce
bill. These virtually closed Little
Rock against all competition with
rivers. At present there 10 lively
rivalry between the two interests.
Rates have necessarily been advanced
under the influence Of the bill. He
then, in answer to questions from Mr..
Bragg, gave the old and new rates on
freight from Little Rock; also, the
manner OF its transportation. Cotton,
he said, all went by rail under agree-
ment between river and rail lines.
HENRY n. CO0PkR,
Of Little Rock, manufacturer OF coop
erage and cooper products, was then
called. His outturn was sold mostly
at San Francisco, and the interstate
commerce bill knocked him complete
ly out. -,
Messrs. o. O. Sharp, OF Humboldt,
and G. b. Tyler, OF Greensboro, were
allowed TO certify to the authenticity
OF memorials from business men Of
those places, asking for suspension
Of the long and short haul.
At 7 o'clock pm. the commission
adjourned until 10 o'clock am. today,
at which time committees from the
Memphis Cotton and Merchants TX
changes will be heard.
THE EVANSVILLE DELEGATION
was b ard by the Interstate Commerce
Commission during the afternoon.
Mr.. F. W. Cook, as chairman, pre-
sented the memorial Of the Business
Mems Association, and also petition,
signed by nearly 1000 representative